Bandido II uMax......... Opinions?

[Zectron2348]

Picked up an advertised "Excellent operation, Cosmetically perfect" Tesoro Bandido II uMax today, for under $200 plus shipping.

Any opinions on the old Bandido II uMax?

I had one many many years ago and really liked it, I just couldn't resist getting this one.

 

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[bigtim1973]

I have a friend that has had one since it was new and swears by it. He does not even have a back up unit either. I have the eldorado which is pretty much the same as the bandito but it has the frequency shift on it and the new style coil. All I can tell you is get ready to dig. If you picked it up for that including shipping I think you did real good!!! Tim

 

[artzstuff1]

all I can say is keep this one!!! I have had one since 2001-2002,, I like it ,and still use it quite often!!!!

it hunts pretty close to my vaquero,,,


artzstuff

 

[Shortstack]

You got an excellent machine at a most excellent price. It is definitely a "keeper."

 

[dirt hound]

exellent machine I will never sell mine,goes forever on one nine volt battery,you will love it!

 

[Zectron2348]

Isn't it funny how if you really get into detecting you get that, "it's always greener on the other side of the hill" syndrome, hey "that machine will be better than what I have", and the chase goes on for that "perfect" machine that will find you everything there is to be found.

Years later and lots of money later you realize, "hey that xxxxxx machine was a good machine, .... wish I had it back. "

Been there, done that.

I'm glad to have found an old Bandido II uMax, ....... should have never sold my first one.

 

[Corben]

I wish I only paid that much for mine. I paid almost three hundred for my used bandido2MX on eBay. I bid high and went to bed and some J/A kept raising his bid. When I woke up I had won but angry at the same time. But on the bright side the Bandido was in mint condition (Even the box, bumper sticker and manual looked new.) and it has more then paid for itself in gold within the first few months of using her! She's a great little detector.

 

[cnynctry]

I've had mine for about 9 or 10 years. I think about updating but the thing just keeps on working for me. I think you got a good deal. New the SRP was close to $500.

 

[ToddB64]

I've had mine for about 9 or 10 years. I think about updating but the thing just keeps on working for me. I think you got a good deal. New the SRP was close to $500.

After buying my Bandido ll uMax Oct. 09, 2008, I called Tesoro and was told this unit was made between 1997 - 2001 and the msrp was $439.00. I spoke with Christy at the factory. Hope I spelled her name correctly.

Todd

 

[jharhed]

I picked up one a couple weeks ago, like it more than the vaquero I had

 

[Vin-Diesel]

I purchased mine brand new in ..... I think it was about 2000 - 2001 somewhere around there.. I paid $475.00 for it. It came with the soft case, a storage apron for holding pull tabs and such, a bumper sticker, a pair of generic headphones, a digging tool (that I still use every time I go out), and a ops manual.

Before I purchsed the Bandido, I checked out ALOT of other machines and received literature about many other kinds. This was my first machine and I really wanted a unit that I would hang on to for a long time.

Well it took me awhile to figure out how to use it, but the ops manual is well written and I took lots of notes (and taped them to the control box so I would remember how to do a few things out on the field).

What kind of 'bummed me out' was that I saved up the $$ for the machine... and right after I purchased it... they disonntinued the unit. For the longest time I felt a little like I may have purchased a lemon or some such deal. (Why did they discontinue it? does anyone know?)

I used the machine alot that first year.... then that tapered off some.. then alot ... then after about 3 years it sat in its case till about 2006. Thats when I was layed off from my job (of 18 years) and now I had some time to get back into MDing. I did. I got the ops manual out again and read it and re-read it... learned how to use the machine all over again. Then in 2007 I got the job I have now (and love) and this job gives me much more time to get out there. I have thought about getting another machine (namely a minelab) but now after spending more time with the B2 I have decided to instead try out other kinds of coils on the machine and purchase a few things I had wanted for a long time (like a probe) ... and just use this unit instead of buying another new machine.

So now... I feel like I have gotten into Metal Detecting all over again... but this time I have a different 'mind-set' about the whole deal. The B2 was a great machine back when I bought it... and still is... Im sticking with it for now... my youngest daugther wants to get into it as well, as she wants an ACE 250 so I see that in her future.

So to answer the post question...... Bandido 2 uMax..... Opinions?

My opinion is this... It's a very good unit. On my unit everything works as advertised. The battery is super easy to change and lasts a very long time (a suprisingly long time). If your unfamilliar with the unit, I would deffinetly get the ground balancing procedure down to a science... this unit seems to like to be ground balanced perfectly so to really get the advantage of the depth. Believe me you will see a HUGE differance in performance if you decide not to ground balance before you hunt as compared to taking the time to GB correctly. Also the head phones that came with mine are fine and worked ok... until I tried an upgraded pair at a bit more cost.... quite a differance. In conclusion I would say if you can pick one of these units up on say ebay or craigslist in excellent shape for around $200.... you would be getting a heck of a deal.

Vin.

 

[reed88]

ive had one for maybe 3 yrs love it ,, like someone said yu haft to get ground balance down to a science , when yu do that rent a backhoe to dig with :>)

 

[Michigan Badger]

The Bandido II uMax is one of the best machines Tesoro has ever made (I own one myself). I'd put my Bandido II uMax up against a Tejon any day.

Everybody thinks as I once dig that all "improvements" to detector models is always a good thing. Today I know this is not so.

Tesoro would do well to go back to some of their earlier models with maybe just a little upgrade here and there (mostly in the coils).

The Eldorado (which is basically the same as the Bandido II uMax), the original Silver Sabre, and several others were excellent and very possibly better than some of their newer models.

More and more people are learning about some vintage machines and it sure shows in the ebay bidding.

And too with Tesoro's warranty it really doesn't matter how old the machine is.

Badger